NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm taking this survey to determine if the average person can swim.

Please answer yes or no, to whether or not you can swim.

I live in an area with a lake, so it's very common, almost unanimous.

What makes you think that people on this forum are representative of "the average person"?

A global conference of statisticians have determined that the "average person" is Ms. Ma Yan, a 32 year old Chinese woman. She was calculated as the average, with a standard deviation of Bob Newhart. She swims well.

Okay, sorry, seriously, though, I can swim.

What makes you think that people on this forum are representative of "the average person"?

I second that question.

A global conference of statisticians have determined that the "average person" is Ms. Ma Yan, a 32 year old Chinese woman. She was calculated as the average, with a standard deviation of Bob Newhart. She swims well.

Okay, sorry, seriously, though, I can swim.
For measurement purposes only, one should also note the fact that Ms Yan is a transexual, thereby meeting the 'average' criteria. For all other purposes, we should respect Ms Yan's self-detirmined gender identity.

Considering the aversion of the avergae geek to water, and the number of geeks on this forum, I suggest this is not a representative sample.

:D

For measurement purposes only, one should also note the fact that Ms Yan is a transexual, thereby meeting the 'average' criteria. For all other purposes, we should respect Ms Yan's self-detirmined gender identity.

Wow, you actually read the footnotes of the study. I'm impressed.

I once had a stats prof open a lecture by saying,

"To a reasonable degree of precision, the average human has one testicle."

EDIT: Note, this is essentially correct, although the figure to a great degree of precision would be slightly less than one (unless women are not slightly over-represented; I'm told they are).

"To a reasonable degree of precision, the average human has one testicle."

He's right. Half the world's population have none.

He's right. Half the world's population have none.

Yep, that's the point.

He was illustrating how not all distributions are what is sometimes called "normal" or a centrally peaked curve.

So you are under the impression that these "geeks" on the forum would be less able to swim? If so that further proves my point. :-)

So you are under the impression that these "geeks" on the forum would be less able to swim? If so that further proves my point. :-)

Although geeks (myself included) are sometimes less athletically inclined (with exceptions), geeks often have worry-wart mothers that are adamant on swimming lessons...

When we say swim, do we mean able to survive in water for some period, or the ability to swim proficiently with some kind of technique?

By swim.. I mostly mean able to be in a pool of water for longer than a minute without drowning, without touching the bottom or holding on to anything.

no

no
You are a douche hoss... If I wasn't on the phone with you right now I'd call you a douche again. Ooops.

I can swim badly. Better for me is I can float, so I just lie on my back until I'm rescued ;)

I can swim badly. Better for me is I can float, so I just lie on my back until I'm rescued ;)

Lucky you. I sink when I try to float. My father and I both sink to the bottom while the rest of my family just floats. :(

If God wanted us to be able to swim, he would have made sure that we would not loose our gills while developing in our mothers' wombs! :)

If God wanted us to be able to swim, he would have made sure that we would not loose our gills while developing in our mothers' wombs! :)

That's too great to not go in my sig. :D

By swim.. I mostly mean able to be in a pool of water for longer than a minute without drowning, without touching the bottom or holding on to anything.
If that is the case, then I would say yes, but the average person certainly can't so very well.

yes, rather well :) (county team)

edit: that's me, not the 'average person' necessarily

I was the distance, butterfly, and IM swimer on my highschool swim team. There's a whole lot of sittin' around between then and now.

I cannot swim.

If God wanted us to be able to swim, he would have made sure that we would not loose our gills while developing in our mothers' wombs! :)
God does not exist.

. . .but not very far as i start sinking by the stern

Everybody can swim. The problem is that those who can't, just don't know how to swim. Someone has to teach them. :)

I can swim, but I don't.

Everybody can swim. The problem is that those who can't, just don't know how to swim. Someone has to teach them.
Aye. The best way to teach them is of course to throw them off a boat, 'cause they'll start practicing like hell then.

I can swim, and based on my trip up north earlier in the year, I can swim whilst very, very drunk.

although come to think of it, I never went into the lake deeper than about my chest, so I was probably walking more than swimming..

Aye. The best way to teach them is of course to throw them off a boat, 'cause they'll start practicing like hell then.
True. However this may cause a huge gap between the good and the bad students. :p

What makes you think that people on this forum are representative of "the average person"?

The globally recognised 'average person' is an intelligent but shy 15 year old male who resides in the United States, is a heterosexual virgin without a girlfriend and has at least a passing interest in political debate. FACT!

The globally recognised 'average person' is an intelligent but shy 15 year old male who resides in the United States, is a heterosexual virgin without a girlfriend and has at least a passing interest in political debate. FACT!


Well that's fairly horrifying then. But it does explain a lot.

I live in a place where there is a body of water in any direction in less than 11 miles.
Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, you name it..we got em.

So..its a bit rare to meet people who cant at least dog-paddle.

Except for the inner cities, I suppose.

Well that's fairly horrifying then. But it does explain a lot.

NSGeneral has taught me all I know of the world.

NSGeneral has taught me all I know of the world.


Please never go outside.

Not everybody of this forum is an average person then. Hoozah! Long live discrepancy! :)

NSGeneral has taught me all I know of the world.


Very well.

How many canaries does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

How many canaries does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

What is this, NSZeneral?

Everybody can swim. The problem is that those who can't, just don't know how to swim. Someone has to teach them. :)
Your wrong

What is this, NSZeneral?
No. its NSGeneral

I put "no." I can dog-paddle, but I can't swim underwater at all.

I can only kinda swim. I can make it from one spot to another, but since I have very little body fat I float much the same way a rock does.

Oh, and there are 5 lakes and 2 rivers within 25 miles, so I suppose if I couldn't at least swim as well as I can I probably would have drowned as a child.

Sort of...I have some beginner skills...I just never learned on a real program from camp or something...

More or less. I can get from one end of the pool to the other, and retrieve stuff from the bottom, but don't ask me to do any flashy strokes.

True. However this may cause a huge gap between the good and the bad students. :p
It's a capitalist school, what do you expect?

I can swim, but I'm far from average.

Thus, I conclude that the average person cannnot swim.

I can swim.

But even if you can't swim - you corpse can float after 2-3 days in the water, hehehe :D

I can swim, but I have hardly any upper body strength, so I sure wouldn't survive a tsunami.

I am so bouyant that I usually float two or three inches ABOVE the surface of the water. When I scuba dive I need 28 lbs of weights in order to be able to sink.

I am a mediocre swimmer, couldn't win races, but certainly could stay afloat until a week from Tuesday if I had to.

Your wrong

I admire your way of having a discussion. Well argumentation there...

Most of the children around here are taught to hold their own in the swimming department.

I was an assistant coach for a swim team for awhile, and I think that everyone has the ability to swim, but they need proper instruction and practice.

Exactly, Aidenmae! :)